Republicans are nothing if not predictable. They’ve essentially had the same economic philosophies since the 80’s, with a few slight tweaks here and there. Whenever they pass any sort of budget it always boils down to more spending on defense, tax cuts for the rich and huge cuts in social programs for the poor and needy. You know, the same economic and budgetary philosophies that led us straight into the worst economic crashes since the Great Depression.

So it goes without saying that their newest budget proposal is more of the same. Needless to say, Bernie Sanders (I-VT) isn’t a fan of the GOP’s latest attempt to redistribute even more of our nation’s wealth to the richest among us while gutting programs that help our poor and middle class.

“This budget throws 27 million Americans off health insurance,” Sanders said. “At a time when kids can’t afford to go to college, and are leaving school deeply in debt, this budget cuts $90 billion from mandatory funding for Pell grants. At a time where we have 40 million people living in poverty, people struggling to put food on the table, this budget makes savage cuts to nutrition and food stamps and programs for pregnant women. So this is a horrendous budget.”

But because they’ve masterfully managed to manipulate millions of Americans into voting against their own interests by whipping up irrational fear toward social issues such as abortion rights, gay rights, guns and religion, they’ve successfully convinced a good portion of this country to vote for the very people who are trying to make their lives even more difficult. I can’t count how often I’ve come across someone who relies on Medicare for health care or Social Security for their livelihood, yet they’re avid Republicans who claim that “they don’t need help from the government.” No matter how hard I try, I can never wrap my mind around the fact that someone would vote for a party that’s literally calling them a lazy moocher while constantly trying to cut the very benefits that they rely on just to survive.

It makes absolutely no sense, yet tens of millions of Americans do it every single election. It’s easily one of the most baffling phenomenons I deal with in politics.

Thankfully we have senators like Bernie Sanders in Congress. We need more who are willing to fight for the people and call out these horrific budgets proposed by the party that has somehow managed to convince millions of Americans that their lives will be better off by making the wealthiest amongst us even wealthier.

Allen Clifton is a native Texan who now lives in the Austin area. He has a degree in Political Science from Sam Houston State University. Allen is a co-founder of Forward Progressives and creator of the popular Right Off A Cliff column and Facebook page. Be sure to follow Allen on Twitter and Facebook, and subscribe to his channel on YouTube as well.